Current:Home > StocksEx-aide to NYC Mayor Eric Adams in plea discussions with federal prosecutors -WealthSpot
Ex-aide to NYC Mayor Eric Adams in plea discussions with federal prosecutors
View
Date:2025-04-15 22:03:29
NEW YORK (AP) — A former aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams is discussing a possible plea deal with federal prosecutors following his arrest last month on charges of witness tampering and destroying evidence, court papers show.
Mohamed Bahi, who served as City Hall’s chief liaison to the Muslim community, was arrested last month as part of a sweeping investigation into Adams and his campaign fundraising that led to the mayor’s indictment on corruption charges in September.
In a court filing made public this week, prosecutors said that conversations were underway with Bahi’s attorney “regarding a possible disposition of this case.” The filing did not elaborate on the nature of those discussions or whether a plea deal would require Bahi to cooperate with federal investigators.
Inquiries to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan were not returned. An attorney for Bahi, Derek Adams, also did not return a request for comment.
Adams pleaded not guilty to charges that he accepted bribes of free and discounted overseas vacations and illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals, including a Turkish diplomat.
Bahi, 40, was charged two weeks later in a separate fundraising scheme. Prosecutors say he encouraged the owner of a Brooklyn construction company to reimburse four employees for their $2,000 donations to Adams, allowing the campaign to fraudulently obtain public matching funds.
An indictment said that after FBI agents contacted the construction company’s owner this summer, Bahi advised the businessman to lie to investigators, telling him that Adams believed he would not cooperate with law enforcement. As agents arrived to search Bahi’s own home in July, they say he deleted an encrypted messaging app from his cellphone that he had used to communicate with Adams.
Adams, a Democrat, denied that he had ever told a city employee to lie. And he has vowed to remain in office as he fights his own case. But the investigation has roiled City Hall in recent months, prompting resignations of the police commissioner, the schools chancellor and several top advisors to Adams.
On Friday, Adams’ longtime girlfriend, Tracey Collins, retired from her role as a senior advisor in the Department of Education. Prosecutors say she accompanied Adams on several trips abroad that were comped or heavily discounted by a Turkish official seeking to harness Adams’ influence.
At a hearing last month, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hagan Scotten said prosecutors are pursuing “several related investigations” and that it is “likely” additional defendants will be charged and “possible” that more charges will be brought against Adams.
Adams’ trial is scheduled to begin in April.
veryGood! (346)
Related
- Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
- Chiefs players comfort frightened children during Super Bowl parade mass shooting
- Man charged with beheading father carried photos of federal buildings, bomb plans, DA says
- Gwen Stefani Reveals Luxurious Valentine's Day Gift From Blake Shelton
- Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
- Company plans $344 million Georgia factory to make recycled glass for solar panels
- EA Sports drops teaser for College Football 25 video game, will be released this summer
- Delta flight with maggots on plane forced to turn around
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- 2 former Didion Milling officials sentenced to 2 years in Wisconsin corn plant blast
Ranking
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Reduce, reuse, redirect outrage: How plastic makers used recycling as a fig leaf
- Man claims $1 million lottery prize on Valentine's Day, days after break-up, he says
- Nebraska Republican gives top priority to bill allowing abortions in cases of fatal fetal anomalies
- This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
- Biden administration looks to expand student loan forgiveness to those facing ‘hardship’
- Who is Lynette Woodard? Former Kansas star back in spotlight as Caitlin Clark nears record
- After searing inflation, American workers are getting ahead, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says
Recommendation
Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
Brother of dead suspect in fires at Boston-area Jewish institutions pleads not guilty
UGG Boots Are on Sale for 53% Off- Platform, Ultra Mini, & More Throughout Presidents’ Day Weekend
North Carolina lawmakers say video gambling machine legislation could resurface this year
Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
Kansas City mass shooting is the 50th so far this year, gun violence awareness group says
Utah school board seeks resignation of member who questioned athlete’s gender
As Alabama eyes more nitrogen executions, opponents urge companies to cut off plentiful gas supply